Drizzle 4 oC
March '10 Bulletin
A display is running, until the end of September, in the Old Police Station, High Street, to commemorate the arrival of the Fifth Battalion, The Green Howards.
Two companies of these territorial soldiers, many only eighteen years old and mostly from Yorkshire's Scarborough area, were stationed in Campden from late September 1939 until January 17 1940.Other companies were billeted in Broad Campden, Weston-sub-edge and Ebrington.
After leaving Campden, the battalion went to France where the men were among the last to be evacuated from Dunkirk's beaches.
The battalion then saw action in North Africa, Italy, Palestine and Normandy.
After the war, battalion members held re-unions in Campden.
In 1980, they presented an oak table to Campden.
The front of the table bears an inscription that reads: "The first winter of the 1939-1945 war the 5th Battalion, The Green Howards received a warm welcome from the people of Chipping Campden and nearby villages before embarking overseas.
"This table is presented as a token of appreciation by all ranks of the battalion."
Brigadier John Powell, the last Colonel of the Green Howards before their amalgamation into The Yorkshire Regiment in 2006, officially opened the display.
He spoke of the action the soldiers faced in France after leaving Campden in 1940 and the subsequent evacuation from Dunkirk.
His father, Colonel Geoffrey Powell, was also a Green Howard who moved to Campden in 1977 to immerse himself in military and local history and to write a history of the regiment and the town.
Gloucestershire Family History Society's Campden District Branch organised the display, created by Paul and Dennis Hughes.
Donations from the display's official opening went to the Friends of The Green Howards.
More contributions can be made by telephoning Judith Ellis on 01386 840561.